Christians don’t have a monopoly on love. In fact, some might claim that a loving Christian is an oxymoron. For many, the words ‘evangelical Christian’ would say more about one’s political views than one’s character.
So when Paul says that the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22), what does he mean? Is there a type of love that is uniquely Christian? A kind of supernatural love that is the fruit of the Spirit of Christ?
Luke 6:27-36 is a useful though unlikely starting point. In this short course on discipleship, Jesus reveals the essence of love that is uniquely Christian.
He describes three kinds of love:
1. Common love: ‘If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.’ This is a love that all are capable of because all are made in the image of a loving God. It’s a love that can be found among Muslims, Buddhists, and atheists. It’s a love of a mother for a child, a husband for a wife, a citizen for a nation.
2. Uncommon love: ‘Love your enemies.’ Here we get to the heart of distinctively Christian love. No other religion or religious teacher demands we love our enemies. Jesus’ command goes way beyond pacifism. He doesn’t merely say, ‘Deal justly with your enemy’ or even ‘Respond to your enemy non-violently.’ He says we must love our enemies. Just as God took extreme measures to love us, we must go to extreme lengths for the welfare and well-being of our enemies.
3. Triumphant love: ‘Love your enemies … and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High…’ Jesus’ teaching is not directed to governments, armies, or police forces. He’s speaking to disciples. To be a disciple Jesus says we must abandon our rights to security and self-preservation and attach ourselves solely to him. The kind of love Jesus calls us to cannot be imitated, it cannot be done without him. It is only possible through radical attachment to him through humble and vulnerable faith. It is the fruit of the Spirit, the cross, and the word of Christ.
“We shall match your ability to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering… Throw us in jail and we shall still love you.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King was a theocrat. Read his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. He wanted the Bible to be the basis of our laws. I say hooey. I’m gay. That book has done nothing for me and I don’t believe in it.
He even said that we have a Judeo-Christian foundation. If any of those GOP bigots said that on the campaign trail, I’d let them know what bigots they are. Why is this kind of exclusionary language acceptable from MLK? Is it because he’s black?
He makes me sick. He even praises Paul in his letter. Paul! He’s a first century homophobe who demanded that wives be obedient to their husbands and SLAVES be obedient to their masters.
I blogged about it here. MLK is truly sick.
http://twogaybullies.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/why-do-we-honor-this-christian-talibani-with-a-holiday/
Welcome, Patrick.
Everyone acts according to their belief system – including you. You just happen to disagree with MLK. Did he ever advocate denying homosexuals their human rights?
I’m not an expert on MLK, but as far as I can tell, his moral standard was (though imperfect) based upon the love of God, which was patient enough to respond nonviolently, extreme enough to die for the good of others, and broad enough to even include his enemies.
Such love can be incredibly offensive. It got both MLK – and Jesus Christ – killed.
Statements like the one Martin Luther King, Jr. makes here scare me, but that is truly the heart of Christian love. (Numerous 2nd century Christian writers wrote short statements like your post here, in very similar words.) May God grant me 1/10 his courage.
I’m a chemotherapy/radiation/bone marrow transplant patient as I write this, trying to faithfully live out the truth that *all* things work together for good for us who love God and are all called by him. I’m facing suffering to save my life, but MLK faced it for God, for good, and for others. He had the choice to walk away, but he made the choice to love.
Thanks, Paul. Love is always a decision to enter into and to remain in. Christ’s love was a decision to enter into our brokenness – to meet us where we’d ended up. And he had to break himself in order to do it.
But the healing only comes by embracing the brokenness – as your own life situation demonstrates. Loving our enemies is embracing our brokenness. Suffering to be healed.
Some people look for signs and wonders others look for wisdom. But life and healing is found at the cross.
The Lord be with you.